The '''cream tea''', involving scones, jam and clotted cream, is a local speciality and may well have originated in Devon (although neighbouring counties also claim it); in many countries, however, this combination is known as '''Devonshire Tea'''.

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The '''cream tea''', involving scones, jam and clotted cream, is a local speciality which is thought to have originated from Tavistock over a thousand years ago [http://www.bbc.co.uk/devon/news_features/2004/tavistock_cream_tea.shtml](although neighbouring counties also claim it); in many countries, however, this combination is known as '''Devonshire Tea'''. It is also popular in Cornwall with the only real difference being the order in which it is spread. In Devon the prefferred method is cream first then the jam, whereas in Cornwall it is the other way around [http://bakingforbritain.blogspot.com/2006/07/scones-cream-and-jam-west-country.html]

==Drink==

==Drink==

Revision as of 14:16, 28 September 2010

Devon[1] (also known, far less commonly, as "Devonshire") is a large county in England'sWest Country, bordered to the west by Cornwall and to the east by Dorset and Somerset. Uniquely amongst English counties, Devon has two separate coastlines: to the south, on the English Channel and to the north, on the Irish Sea and Bristol Channel. These are studded with resort towns, harbours and (more recently) surfing beaches. Devon is also home to two National Parks - Dartmoor and Exmoor* - and includes the island of Lundy in the Bristol Channel / Irish Sea.
N.B. Exmoor is shared with Somerset, which has the larger share.

Understand

The name "Devon" derives from the Celtic people who inhabited the southwest of Britain at the time of the Roman invasion, the Dumnonii. Devon's flag is green, with a black and white cross.

Devon has produced tin, copper and other metals throughout its history. Tin was found in the granite of Dartmoor, and copper in the areas around the moor. In the eighteenth century, Devon Great Consols mine (near Tavistock) was believed to be the largest copper mine in the world.

Devon has the highest coastline in southern England and Wales on it's Exmoor
seaboard. The "hob-backed" hills of the exmoor national park tumble down to
the coast on Devon's Bristol Channel coast, culminating at the awesome
"Great Hangman", a 1043ft hill with a cliff-face of 820 foot, while the
"Little Hangman" has a cliff-face of 716 foot. The best way to see these
cliffs is from a boat trip from Ilfracombe or (occcassionally) Lynmouth
or Swansea; the ferry sevice from Penarth in South Wales to Ilfracombe also
passes by this massive coastline (see below).

Devon's Hartland point is the south-west limit of the Bristol Channel; in other
words where the Bristol Channel meets the atlantic ocean. The northern
limit is St Anne's Head in Pembrokeshire, forty-eight miles from Hartland
Point.

Many of the rocks that make up Devon are exceptional geological specimens consisting of the geological period between 416 million years ago and 360 million years ago. It was in homage to this that the period was called the Devonian.

Exeter Castle is situated on an old volcano (volcanic rocks were used in the construction of the Roman buildings) and there are fine exposures of Limestone in Torquay

Along with its nearby neighbours of North Cornwall and the Gower Peninsula, North Devon's magnificently curved Bideford Bay is one the top surfing attractions in the UK, mainly because just like Cornwall and Gower, Bideford Bay faces westward into the vast Atlantic Ocean. The main surf areas are the white-sand beaches of Woolacombe, Putsborough, Croyde, Staunton and Westward Ho! Croyde in particular is rated as one of the best breaks in the West Country, as at low tide it boasts fast, hollow waves - just like Fistral or Langland's Bay Crab Island. Be warned however - in the summer Croyde gets extremely congested (both beach and village) and the car parking prices can seem unreasonable in the extreme. Fortunately, nearby Woolacombe and Staunton offer plenty of parking spaces and beach space.

The larger towns and cities in Devon have small but developing lesbian and gay communities, notably in Plymouth, Torquay and Exeter. Plymouth and Exeter have annual Pride events. In the more rural areas of Devon homophobia can be common and discretion is advised.

The Devon County Council Site [2] has more information on Geological Tourism

Get in

By train

Exeter has two main train stations, St. Davids (where most long-distance services call,) and Central. Central, unsurprisingly, is closer to the centre of town, but the two are within a short walk of one another.

If visiting from Cornwall, the railway will take you across the Royal Albert Bridge from Saltash (in Cornwall) into Devon. When crossing this bridge, you will enjoy marvelous views of the River Tamar, which it crosses.

If visiting from the south, the railway line between London (Waterloo) and Exeter via Salisbury will transport you into east Devon, with connections with other parts of Devon at Exeter (St Davids station).

By road

The M5 is the only motorway to enter Devon. Coming from Bristol from the north-east, it terminates in Exeter, where it continues on as the A38 towards Plymouth and into Cornwal. It also branches off north at Exeter onto the A30 which serves North Devon via Okehampton and then carries on into Cornwall.

The M5 can get very congested during the popular holiday periods and it only takes an accident to bring the whole route to a standstill. If you are travelling to Devon by car it is recommended that you travel either early in the morning or later at night to avoid the holiday build up.

There is a once-daily Megabus service to Exeter from London Victoria (and vice versa,) but this ultra-economy service can be very uncomfortable and very late.

A park and ride service is available, see National Park and Ride Directory [3]

By boat

It is possible to travel to Ilfracombe in North Devon from Penarth and Swansea in South Wales on the paddle steamers Waverly and Balmoral. The Penarth to Ilfracombe journey is particularly scenic, as you also get to see the picturesque towns of Lynton, Lynmouth, the "Valley of the Rocks" and the awesome Great Hangman (the highest cliff in Devon at 1043ft). Leisurely traveling to Devon on a paddle steamer is certainly superior to driving there on the often congested M5!!! There is also a strong possibility of a fast catermaran Ilfracombe ferry [4] to Swansea in a year or two's time.

By plane

There are two principal airports in Devon.

Exeter International, which as the name suggest services a limited number of international flights.[5]

Fly Fishing, ☎+44 (0) 1363 82786, [15]. The rivers around Devon have Trout, Sea Trout and Salmon. Guides can provide equipment & instruction on fly fishing for all experience levels. For Dartmoor and South Devon there is flyfishing devon [16]

Eat

The cream tea, involving scones, jam and clotted cream, is a local speciality which is thought to have originated from Tavistock over a thousand years ago [17](although neighbouring counties also claim it); in many countries, however, this combination is known as Devonshire Tea. It is also popular in Cornwall with the only real difference being the order in which it is spread. In Devon the prefferred method is cream first then the jam, whereas in Cornwall it is the other way around [18]

Drink

Sleep

Stay safe

Devon is a very safe place to live and visit. Crime levels are well below the average for England in part a reflection of Devon's rural population distribution.